State lawmakers told public universities in Michigan, don’t raise tuition by more than 3.75% or we will cut funding by $1.2 million.
Nonetheless Oakland University and Eastern Michigan University blew by the cap.
OU raised tuition by 8.48%. EMU raised tuition by about 7.8%.
Both increases brought in millions more in tuition dollars than the state funding lost. Thursday state lawmakers asked them why.
Both said they were looking to expand to provide more services and technology to students.
“In order to provide our students with the highest value, the university recently self-funded vitally needed capital projects, such as the $90 million Science Complex, which serves as the centerpiece of STEM education at Eastern. We also self-funded major renovations to the College of Health and Human Services,” said Kim Schatzel, Ph.D., Interim EMU President.
State lawmakers asked if the penalty were greater, would it limit tuition increases. Schatzel suggested an incentive may work better than a penalty.
